Beginning of Easter fun

My handsome boyMommy did not get dressed up for the hunt obviously!



Happy Girl










Where have we been?! It seems between the stomach bug, sinus infections, and fires we have been down and out on and off for a few weeks. The cedar takes a toll on Zach, he is struggling to breathe these days. If it does not rain soon might all be in trouble. (It has not rained since Sept of last year)

Today we started our first round of Easter Egg hunts... I love Easter, such a great time of year and the kids hopefully will learn the real meaning.. meanwhile we love the hunts, activities, learning about Jesus, and my favorite matching outfits! Today we joined the gang at First Methodist at Hill Park for the annual egg hunt... They do such a great job at making sure everyone gets plenty of eggs.... which in turn means plenty of candy. I can see the look on Zach's face as the kids are opening up all the candy... it is like anxiety setting in. He is anti candy so he just cringes as each kid holds up another laffy taffy as if they won a gold medal. It is always a battle, I love the people who put silly bands and toys in there so it keeps the peace! It seems my children have my sweet tooth! Looking forward to a fun week now off to see the Blue Devils play a game against the green dragons... pictures will follow!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

"Kiss me, I'm Awesome!"
Sweet girl with her headband my neighbor made her, so talented.
Notice her feet... always on her tip toes....




Spring Break has been nice this year, the weather has been beautiful so it has made going to the park and playing outside nice and easy. I did attempt the library yesterday for a "fun" activity... they have story time and do a little craft. I have tried this before and thought since we are a little older it might be easier. Wrong. My kids are not library kids. They cannot sit still and listen to silly songs, they want to be in my lap, looking at books, doing the activity... I always leave sweating and thinking, " Why did I think this was a good idea?!"
What was a good idea is Zach setting up the tent in the backyard. Something so simple can provide hours of entertainment! Wyatt attempted to sleep in it one night... (Zach and I took bets on how long he would last!) Not very long, he came in and said, " I think I will wait to another night, it is so cold out there...." (the temp was 80 degrees!) So, he got up early with Zach to workout and went in the tent and fell asleep until daylight (which at 5:30AM is a couple of hours)

We started off this morning with green eggs, a tradition... and hope to have more green fun today! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Beginning of Spring Break fun

I WANT this sweet baby! He is sooo cute.

Baby chicks and ducklings

So cute!
EJ and the bunny, she is my animal lover...
Annabelle, Jay, EJ and Wyatt with the bunny
Buddies...


Thank goodness for good friends and neighbors... I love my neighbors, they make our lives so enjoyable.. Yesterday we celebrated Bella's birthday with play date and cupcakes at the park, today we headed over the the 4H petting zoo and discovered an awesome new park! Every time I go to one of these, I call Zach and tell him I want to move to the country! I love animals, I love the 4H program and it is hard for me not to sneak the baby goat in my shirt and take him home! I know I would push my luck though... right now we have a new cat that Zach is highly allergic too, but we have all gotten attached too.. Columbo is still around, we are debating on sending him to my Mom's, that what a good wife would do. Zach said the only way we could keep him is by keeping the house super clean and only letting him in to eat. That is hard to do, so I started today by scrubbing the baseboards in the bathroom.. I have to say I am embarrassed to say the least.. So each day is a new scrub down project to get the house super clean. (And thank goodness Terri decided to come back and help!)
WE found an awesome park, too bad they are always on the opposite side of town! It was an adventure park, lots of rope climbing, rock wall, and I think Crossfit approved... it required lots of pull ups and body movements to maneuver..Casey and I love things that are free and wear out the kids, so we will be back soon!

Best Friends

EJ's best friend.. sweet Marissa. We are finally to the age where play dates are easy.. especially with these two. I cannot help to be bias bc Marissa reminds me so much of my Emily, even their looks.. I wish I could figure out how to upload to show us at this age... we were doing the same thing... Playing dress up and "Mommy." Good girlfriends are hard to find! I love these girls, they just make me smile!

Happy Birthday Texas and our new family member

Cowboy
"Jessie" the cowgirl


I picked up Wyatt from school, he runs in changes and goes out front to look for Columbo.. this is what I found when I went outside.
The kid loves the cat, and he waited all day for Wyatt to come home...
A little weird and obsessive, yes but kinda cute?!

Today was "Western Day" to celebrate Texas Independence Day.. the kids wore it proud! I am a little bias about living in Texas and loving our state, so I love every chance they get to learn about the history and wear boots!

We also have a new family member.. at least today.. His name is Columbo. He is the sweet kitty that lived next door but when they moved he did not like his new home and keeps coming back. We have taken him to his "other" house several times and he makes the journey back to our house every time. Wyatt adores this cat and has wanted him since he was a kitten.. Zach hates cats and swells up at the thought and site of one... So who won? Look at the pictures and you tell me.. even Zach was feeding him milk this morning out front. He is as sweet kitty and loves Wyatt.

Oh, big news, Wyatt learned how to ride his bike without training wheels this week, will post pictures later! Big news for the Doss household.. meaning we can play at the park with our other friends with no training wheels! Peer pressure starts early.

February flew by

The Princess Tea... here is Cinderella, I think EJ will pass out at Disney world, we were a little disappointed there were not more princesses other than Cinderella, but she loved to dress up and pretend she was one of them!
Making good use of the balloons, there was a lot of down time and they get creative! Sword fighting with flower balloons!


The day started off with the royal treatment... she sat so still, amazed at how still she can sit when she wants too...

First time getting her nails painted.. she loved every minute of it!

Silly Wyatt...not too thrilled that he cannot join the "girl day"
My girls
Meema and her princess before the princess tea
Princess
Donuts with Dad, she was so excited bc she got to go to work with daddy too.

Monster love!
Silly monkey
Valentine's Day morning...


Happy Valentine's Day!
My beautiful flowers...


Feb is almost over and it seems like time just slips away. We had a great month, much better than starting off the new year in January. We had a wonderful Vday, filled with lots of love, candy and more candy! EJ had donuts with Dad this month at her school and loved all the daddy attention. Today we ended the month by going to the princess tea... it was a good girl time!

Love like Jesus

This week has been a test for me. I find myself often going through the motions, but not really "getting it." or walking it. Sunday we had a sermon on how Satan can plant the seed of doubt in you at any point in your life.. young or old, and he will just wait (he never sleeps) to keep "watering it" until before you know it- your Joy is stolen. He prays on our weaknesses. I had a test this week, and it is funny how God gives you the tools if you just look. We have a play book for life, everything we could ever want to know, yet I still am determined he needs my help. It is quite egotistical. The man who created a caterpillar (who has 228 separate and distinct muscles in its head.. and it is only a bug) needs my help.

I pray every night with the kids " I pray you will love like Jesus." I honestly do, that is my hope and my dreams for both of them. I know if they do, they will be alright. Yet, am I the best example? Am I selfless enough to step out of my comfortable life to help someone else, other than Christmas, and an occasional Church get togethers? Do people see me as a light or something different inside of me? The answer is humbling. I know the answer. I know in order to have my children love like Jesus, I could be their best example. And at times I find it so difficult.

I pray for my children everyday, though out the day... I pray He will protect them, thank Him for their health, love, all the blessings, home, Zach, our country.. yet I have to admit I am praying because I am worried and scared. I am praying to ease my fears, not to say I totally trust in You. I am really good at praying when I need something, but praising when I do not is not always the first thing on my mind.

So my New Years resolution.. a little late.. has to be "Love like Jesus." I know this is a random post, but I want my kids to know what the important things are in life. It is going back to one thing... not about things, but having a relationship with Him and having a caring, compassionate heart for others. I feel I am failing bc all my children do if argue over silly things, but one day I hope it will click. I know I have made a step in the right direction when I took EJ to the Dr two days ago and she wanted to get a sucker for "bubba" (since she got one. )I thought, "whatever, she will eat it in the car or ask for it later." I forgot about it and the minute I picked up Wyatt (several hours later) she said to him, " I saved you a sucker, here it is." and pulled it out of her hello kitty purse. My heart melted. Something so little, so simple. That is all it takes. (That moment quickly faded as we are not arguing over a toy light up sword for the gun show Papa bought..but I remember that moment where I was so proud and my heart melted.) Do I do that? Do I make God proud? What a feeling He must get when we do just little things, what if I actually did step out of my comfort zone?